We’ve got a down weekend out here in Houston. I miss home. We feel like we’ve been gone for a month. I know I have gained five pounds since we got here. It is always so much fun to explore new places to eat. Restaurants that are different from the places we always go at home. Houston is a huge city. Six and a half million people of all kinds. With such a large medical community (I heard M. D. Anderson employs 14,000) there are people from every corner of the world in this city and authentic restaurants are here to serve them the food they eat at home. We have enjoyed exploring the tastes and ambiance of these mostly tiny places. It has been particularly nice to be able to hook up with Susan and Fred Morgan from Columbus who are both fighting the fight and making the best of what M. D. Anderson Cancer Center has to offer them, just like me.
Jill and I were in an elevator this morning at M.D.A. heading for a consultation with the anesthesia department in advance of my needle biopsy, which now is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll be leaving here on Tuesday headed back to God’s country.
I have really screwed this trip up, though. With the exception of Dr. Ken Ogan, who is the Emory Urologist who performed my robotic, laparoscopic nephrectomy in June of 2009, every doctor who has touched me has been a friend of mine. Some closer than others, but I have known them, played golf with them, ridden bikes with them, drunk beer with them. That makes for pretty casual meetings when we’re in their offices before or after a procedure. That luxury has yielded incredible results for us personally and medically. I have been well cared for.
I’ll just say, that “stuff” doesn’t play out here. For the most part, these doctors are the best of the best in the world. I went into our meeting with the surgeon, who is really the only person I absolutely wanted to see out here, with a bit too much of the same casual demeanor that I have come to expect in my doctors’ visits over the past three years. It didn’t go well. At all. I asked too many questions. Leading questions. He didn’t want to be led. At all.
I am going to do whatever I have to do to repair the damage I might have caused. This guy is a great surgeon. I’m sure there are others, but I don’t know them. I want Dr. Chris Wood to be my surgeon. I’m about to take a big gulp of humble pie, or whatever else I have to do to get things back on track. God, I miss Andy Pippas. Brilliant, kind, devoid-of-ego, mad scientist Dr. Andrew William Pippas. We’ve got some stuff to talk about the next time I see him.
So the biopsy will be done on Monday. It is almost certainly going to indicate a cancerous tumor on my left adrenal gland. Dr. Wood wants a six-month regimen of Sunitinib (Sutent). I haven’t discussed this with Dr. Pagliaro, my M. D. Anderson “team leader.” I think he’s going to be surprised that Dr. Wood doesn’t think an immediate surgery is what I need. I left my appointment with Dr. Pagliaro this past Monday thinking surgery was probably a slam dunk.
I do not want to take that drug, unless there is a clear, logical reason for me to do so. I’m not convinced that time is now. But what do I know? We’re only talking about my life.
Mike,
I have been wondering how things were going for you — I am glad you are being taken care of by the MD Anderson folks. I have several friends who were well cared for there. I know there are great restaurants there but if you need some Georgia grits for you or to soften up a doctor (instead of humble pie) we will ship it to you!
Wishing you only the best!
Debbie and Mike Buckner
It doesn’t matter how much ‘pie’ needs to be consumed. I know you will do it. I pray for your doctors to do what they feel is best to help you get Strainer back running properly and to rid your body of the cancer.
I won’t begin to understand what you re going through. But I will pray and pray and pray.
Mike and Jill,
I’m sorry I had to see you two on a trip to MDA but I hope that my city will treat you two well and that the doctors will help make things right again!
Keep in touch and you are both in my thoughts and prayers.
Love, Lo
P.S. You have a great roommate there Mike- she will take good care of you I know.
Mike,
Glad to see the road is no getting any steeper and that you will be returning soon. Watch out for the tex-mex.
We just got to know Dr. Kenneth Ogan and are totally impressed. We were impressed with; his eye contact, his love of his family, his caring bedside.manor and his willingness to spend the time needed to answer all questions. He removed Carolyn’s bladder last week and Dr. Galloway built her an Indiana Pouch. I am sitting in the Emory Emergency room at midnight waiting to see what is stopping the drains up. Should be fine.
We had good path report that the tumors were confined to the bladder with only one T-3 through the wall. The 26nodes were clear.
Look forward to seeing you next week.
Mike: I know from experience how good are the people at MDACC. But I also know there is no universal road map for this cancer journey. And some decisions are not reversable. It is perhaps inevitable that a doctor here and there might have his feelings hurt. But, as you point out, this is your life. Listen to that inner voice. Then go at it like a cat eating a grind stone; one lick at the time. Be strong, my friend. Robert
I doubt any humble pie is called for- we’ve all dealt with patients who are fighting for their lives in one way or another and thus understandably have alot of questions. They’ve been through this before and seen alot “worse” than you. There is no doubt you’re in a tough spot- you’re playing their game on their home court, and you don’t know all the rules. Just know that at their level, these guys don’t even wipe themselves until they have a double blind, randomized, controlled study showing which way is best. Whatever they recommend is going to have some fairly good science behind it. I’ll bet Andy would answer his phone if you called for some advice.
I love Dr. Gillett’s advice. … Also, we are missing you here in the Peach State. Prayers!
Mike, my brother-in-law is a psychiatrist on staff at MD Anderson who works with the staff and doctors in particular. He could probably be of assistance. If you’d like me to contact him and help get you two together send me an email or a text at 256-655-6999. Thinking positive thoughts for you and Jill.
There’s no such thing … or, there shouldn’t be .. as too many questions. Play the game, but you get to make up some of the rules, too.
I’ll agree with Cyndy. Ask all the questions you want; it’s your good health on the line. When I was an infertility patient for five years, I learned to also be a very assertive patient.
Above advice all good- better than any I may be able to offer…. Just know that you & Jill remain in our hearts & prayers….We love you Mike…..